Sean Penn sues Lee Daniels for comments on domestic violence (Photo : REUTERS/DARIO PIGNATELLI)
"Empire" co-creator Lee Daniels has angered "The Gunman" star Sean Penn who has filed a $10 million defamatory case against Daniels who allegedly accused Penn of "wife beating" and compared him to actor Terrence Howard who was arrested for charges of domestic violence recently.
The "Empire" actor Howard in a controversial interview with Rolling Stone had openly admitted that he hit his first wife and subsequently Daniels defended his colleague saying Howard has done nothing different than "Marlon Brando or Sean Penn, and all of a sudden he's a demon." Daniels drew the unsavory comparison during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
A complaint was filed this week at the New York Supreme Court, where Penn's lawyers claim that while trying to "defend" Howard against the star's "ongoing legal and related troubles" Daniels has falsely implied Penn of being guilty of "ongoing, continuous violence against women."
Former federal prosecutor Mathew Rosengart, has been retained by Penn for the case and told the publication his client has been the target of "scandalous" and "baseless" attacks owing to his status as a public figure for years and his current is to deter "Daniels and others from their defamatory actions.
Further the lawyers have said Daniel's remarks have been part of a campaign to bolster and profit his show "Empire." The lawsuit points out that while the "Milk" actor has had his share of run-ins with the law he has never been convicted nor arrested for domestic violence. However, "Empire" Howard has reportedly been arrested about five times for acts of violence against women.
